Our Mission:Western Center leads the fight in the courts, counties and capital to secure housing, health care and a strong safety net for low-income Californians

History:Western Center on Law & Poverty, California’s oldest and largest legal services support center, was created in 1967 by a passionate group of attorneys and legal scholars from USC, UCLA and Loyola law schools. Our founders sought to create a unique organization, driven by the belief that low-income Californians deserve the finest possible legal representation before every institution that shapes their lives.

With a focus on healthcare, affordable housing, public benefits and access to justice, our attorneys, advocates, legal services co-counsel and pro bono partners attain real-world, system-wide solutions on behalf of 8.2 million low-income Californians though class action and other impact litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, negotiations and collaborations with state and local governments and support for frontline legal aid programs.

We are supported by individual and law firm donations, foundation grants and attorney fee awards. Western Center receives no federal funding.

Litigation: Working with local legal aid programs and pro bono co-counsel, we bring class action and otherhigh-impact cases that address basic rights for all low-income Californians.

Legislative/Policy Advocacy: Our advocates sponsor and support bills, oppose harmful legislation and educate policymakers and other stakeholders on behalf of our clients.

Administrative Advocacy: Western Center monitors, advocates, negotiates and works collaboratively with federal, state and local agencies to protect and expand the rights of our clients.

California Must Repeal Child Exclusion Law 02/14/2015Notes on the LegislatureCalifornia has the highest rate of child poverty in the nation and more children in poverty than any other state. Senate Bill 23 introduced by Senator Holly J. Mitchell would end the CalWORKs child exclusion law, known as the Maximum Family Grant, and reduce child poverty. Western Center on Law and Poverty is asking for support.

New Law That Gives Second Chance 02/01/2015Notes on the LegislatureJust two more months until California ends the optional ban for people with prior drug-related convictions from receiving CalFresh benefits and CalWORKs benefits. Western Center is working with allies to help get out the word.

Governor's Budget Offers Little Relief to Poor Californians 01/09/2015Notes on the LegislatureGovernor Brown today released his January 2015-16 budget proposal. The $113.3 billion budget is not only balanced but has both a budget surplus and $2.4 billion placed into the budget reserve. Meanwhile, this budget continues the pattern established by the Brown Administration of providing little or no funding increases for the safety net which was cut severely in the recession. It makes no proposal to reduce California's astronomical poverty rate of nearly 24 percent or reduce the impact on children from living in deep poverty.

Human Service Bills: Some Signed - Some Vetoed 10/02/2014Notes on the LegislatureWestern Center summarizes Governor Jerry Brown's actions taken on Human Services and Access to Jobs & Justice bills that we were tracking during the 2014 legislative session.